, 1887-07-23
STRANGE STORY.
How Mr.. PattOn's Cattle Were
Detained at Lusk.
Put Into Quarantine Without
Apparent Cause.
Released by the Governor After an
investigation.

About two months ago Mr.. j. B. Pat
ton, a resident of johnson county, arrived
at Lusk with two carloads of y%earling cat
tie which he had bought at.Sis former
home-Pea Ridge, Arkansas MIR. Pat
ton started with sufficient o to carry
him through safely, but was detained at
Missouri Valley, Ia, by quarantine off
Gals, and put to much expense to satisfy
them that his stock had not come from
an infected district. Satisfactory evidence
evidence was given and the calves al
lowed to proceed through Nebraska.
When Mr.. Patton arrived at Lusk he
found his purse depleted and he would
have to dispose of one or two animals to
furnish provisions for the drive to John
son county. But stepping on the station
platform he was confronted by Territorial
Veterinarian Hopkins, clothed in all his
wondrous official dignity, and told that
he would not be allowed to proceed with
his calves but must unload them then and
there and place them in MI. Spaugh's
pasture under a ninety days quarantine.
Naturally, Mr.. Patton was dazed by
this sudden turn of affairs He had al
most reached the end of the road and
had believed that no further trouble
would be encountered. 1t was evident
that matters had been cut and dried be-
fore his arrival at Lusk. The veterinarian
had heard of his coming, and with great
thoughttulness had arranged with Mr..
Spaugh to furnish pasturage for the 100
head Of cattle ninety days at a liberal
charge per month. In vain the owner of
the herd protested against the delay, fur
nishing all the information incident to his
detention and release in Iowa and per-
mission to traverse Nebraska; told the
doctor where the cattle came from. His
protests were received with a deaf ear.
Then he said he had no money to pay for
pasturage and wanted permission to herd
the calves near by.
All" smiled the vet, the animal s
will stand good for their pasturage," and
ordered them into his friends enclosure.
MIR. Patton had paid his fare and the
freight on the cattle to Douglas, and Just
had time to see his entire available pos
sessions turned into an almost barren field
before boarding the train for that point.
He was lett without a cent of money, and
was obliged to rely on the kindness of
some northern-bound traveller for trans
portation to his ranch, about twenty-five
miles north of Buffalo.
AS soon as possible the governor was
appealed to, the matter ordered to be in
vestigated, and it being found hat there
existed no quarantine against the section
from which the yearlings were brought,
their release was ordered. When MI.
Patton returned to Lusk for his herd the
genial Mr.. Spaugh would not let it go I'm
til full pasturage was paid. He was
rightly informed that he would have to
apply elsewhere for it. The secretary of
the Wyoming Stock Growers Association
finally guaranteed the bill to the pasture
nan and Mr.. Patton left with about five
head less than he had placed in the pas
ture.
insufficient feed has retarded the growth
Of the calves very much; four or five of
them died in the pasture; Mr.. Patton has
been placed at much expense by having
to make W trips and has been subjected
to great annoyance and mental distress by
the bull headed action of the territorial
veterinarian. Somebody ought to be
made to pay roundly for this, and if JUS
tice is to be had, they doubtless will be.